CRYOGLOBULINEMIA AND LYMPHOMAGENESIS IN HCV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Abstract

Hepatitis C VJTUS ts an RNA virus responsible for the majority of post transfusion non -A, non-8 hepatitis (Choo et al., 1989). One important clinical feature of HCV infection is a high frequency of chronicity and chronic immune stimulation leading to immune mediated disease such as cryoglobulinemia and lymphoproliferative disorders (Curry et al., 2000).

MC is usually considered to be nonmalignant human 8-cell proliferation which characterized by clinical manifestations of purpura, arthralgia, Raynaud" s, peripheral neuropathy systemic vasculitis and glomerulonephritis (Linda et al., 1997).

HCV vtTl!S could be responsible for benign monoclonal B-cell expansion underlying course of cryoglobulinemia or without cryoglobulinemia. Such benign monoclonal 8-cell expansion may tum into malignant lymphoma under certain situation.

Aiming to estimate cryoglobulin and immunophenotypic pattern of P8L in-patients with or without cryoglobulinemia. We conducted this study on 40 patients with chronic HCV and l0 normal healthy subjects as normal control. The study included 40 patients with chronic HCV infection and l0 healthy subjects.